Grapefruit contains pectin, a form of soluble fiber that can be beneficial when it comes to lowering HDL cholesterol. Both blond and red grapefruit could reduce blood levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and red grapefruit could lower triglycerides as well, according to nutrition experts. Grapefruit’s extra fiber could also help in the battle against weight gain, shows a recent study performed at the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
U.S. researchers tested grapefruit’s ability to reduce weight in 85 obese adults. The participants were randomly assigned to take grapefruit, grapefruit juice or water before meals. The study lasted for 12 weeks after completing a two-week caloric restriction phase. The blood pressure, weight, and 24-hour dietary intakes of the participants were measured weekly. Resting energy expenditure, body composition, physical performance and cardio-metabolic risk biomarkers were assessed as well.
The research team found that the participants experienced on average a 7.1% weight loss overall, with significant decreases in body and trunk fat, as well as waist circumferences. They also noted that the amount and direction of change in serum HDL-cholesterol levels in grapefruit and grapefruit juice preload groups was significantly greater than the water preload group.
The researchers concluded that consumption of a low-energy dense dietary preload, such as grapefruit, in a calorie restricted diet is a highly effective weight-loss strategy. Grapefruit also offers significant benefits in the reduction of HDL cholesterol.
It’s official: grapefruit is a healing food that you can use to boost your nutritional health. Grapefruits are high in vitamin C, too, which is necessary to support your immune system. Vitamin-C-rich foods like grapefruit may help reduce cold symptoms or severity of cold symptoms. Vitamin C also helps prevent the free radical damage that triggers inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
There is one caveat, however: compounds in grapefruit are known to increase circulating levels of several prescription drugs, including statins. For this reason, it’s best to get your doctor’s advice before consuming large quantities of grapefruit if you are already taking statins.